For the 16 to 18 years (since new) I've had my Plat's pulled out well into the room away from room boundaries. I have always had the liberty of placement in a fairly large area. From my experience, there is where they sounded best. I have always felt these puppies need room to breathe. They have served me very well as my main speakers and have stood the test of time. Recently, moved my Plats butting up against the wall on both sides of big screen for center channel duty with anticipation of new mains forthcoming. At first, I was disappointed & dumbed by the difference in sound. My vocals were non-distinct, fuzzy and basically sounded like "ass" to quote Treitz from an earlier post. Was it time to finally sell my beloved friends to someone who would position them in the correct arena where they would truly sing again away from the walls? Say it ain't say.

Get to the point Don and quit rambling! OK-Even though I have sound treatments at first order reflections, I thought I would try placement of my foam sound treatments directly to the back of my ribbons. I cut approx. 2 1/2 inch strips and placed them on the cloth material on the back. The cloth used on the Plat 4's and the foam soundproofing held together without even having to tape. Each strip was 12 inches long, therefore very little weight.

I sat down for a listen. I could not believe my ears. My vocals had never sounded better. Clear, precise, much more distinct and to my surprise sounded much louder. I immediately pulled out my sound meter to check the DB readings. Even though I would have sworn a several DB increase, the levels all around the 5 speakers were the same. I simply could not believe it!

Then I popped in my reference DVD, the Eagles Farewell One, Live from Melbourne. Wow, the vocals had never sounded better. However, because of their perceived increase in loudness, I dropped the DB level by 2 db's in reference to the mains and surrounds. In fact, when Terri heard the DVD playing from another part of the house, she walked in to listen, not knowing what I had done. After she sat down during a listen to "Cloudy Days", she said the DVD sounded different. I asked her what she meant and she said more pure. I asked better or worse. She said definetely better! The vocals were more "clear" to quote.

I don't know how this will work on mains pushed up close to a wall. However, very little, if any cost to try. You just may be surprised by the results. May try painters tape to hold soundproofing in place in the event the soundproofing material does not hold on it's own.

Been barking orders to Matt, my son to do everything since I am down on my back. (you met him at Carverfest) His next immediate project is to solder in a meter bulb on the 400 X 7 I purchased today. (He actually drove to Orlando with my funds to meet up with seller) Then this weekend, he will pop out the TFM-75 and 806X in the HTR and we will test drive the Sunfire Cinema Sig. in their place.

To tell you the truth, I am amazed at the difference in the center channel. My center channel vocals have never sounded better. Tweak was so simple it is laughable. May or may not work on mains, but i don't know why not if they are close to wall. Reflecting back on the many reviews on the Plat 4's, I remember the Boston Audio Society reviewer mentioned he preferred the speaker with a sound absorbing pad behind the ribbons. I think the review was enclosed in Carver's white paper. When I feel better I will research. It is a cheap tweak to try and easy to undue without any damage to anything if it is not to your liking.

Eddie, PM your e-mail address and Terri can take pictures and send them to you by e-mail. She does not know how to download on forum, nor do I. Then if you don't mind posting on forum if you like.

The sound proofing material used was very reasonable and purchased from the Foam Factory. I purchased 1 inch pyramid style, which was very light and adherred right to the backing material on the back of the Plat's.

Initially, I also installed at 2nd and 3rd reflections, but made the room was acoustically dead. Ended up removing much of what I put up. Another issue for another subject under room treatments. Back to Tweak!

Matt took down Acoustic foam behind Plat's and he attached the small 2 1/2" or so wide panels directly to the backing material. This method provided better CC vocals. No sticky required, just held in place by two materials touching each other.

Anyhoo, cheap tweak to try if Plat's or ALS or very close to wall. You may or may not prefer, but nothing to lose.Sure worked for me.